UP Judiciary exam pattern differs for the Preliminary and Mains examinations. According to the official pattern, the prelims consist of two papers: General Knowledge (150 marks) and Law (300 marks). The question format is MCQ, and the test duration is 2 hours for each paper.
The UP Judiciary Mains pattern follows a conventional question format, requiring descriptive answers. The Mains has 6 papers, each worth 200 marks, except for the Hindi Language and English Language papers, which are allotted 100 marks each
While there is no negative marking in the Mains examination, the UP Judiciary Prelim paper carries a penalty of ⅓ for each incorrect answer. Read further to know about the latest UP Civil Judge exam pattern 2026.
UP Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026
A comparative overview of the UP Judiciary exam paper pattern for prelims and mains is mentioned below.
| Particular | UP Judiciary Prelims Exam | UP Judiciary Mains Exam |
| Number of Subjects | 2 Sections: – General Knowledge – Law | 6 Papers: – General Knowledge – Language (Hindi) – Language (English) – Law-I (Substantive Law) – Law-II (Procedure & Evidence) – Law-III (Penal, Revenue and Local Laws) |
| Marks Per Subject | – General Knowledge: 150 Marks – Law: 300 Marks | – General Knowledge: 200 Marks – Language (Hindi): 100 Marks – Language (English): 100 Marks – Law-I: 200 Marks – Law-II: 200 Marks – Law-II: 200 Marks |
| Total Marks | 450 Marks | 1,000 Marks |
| Marks Per Question | 1 Mark for each correct answer | Marks vary according to the question and paper; answers are evaluated descriptively. |
| Negative Marks | ⅓ of the total marks per question | Not Applicable |
| Question Format | Objective-type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | Descriptive/Subjective written examination requiring detailed answers, essays, translations, and legal analysis. |
UP Judiciary Exam Pattern 2026: Stage-wise
UP Judiciary Prelim and Mains patterns differ because of their distinct formats. Prelim is an MCQ-based test, while Mains requires descriptive answers in each paper. Check the pattern below.
UP Judiciary Prelims Exam Pattern
Paper I covers General Knowledge questions based on the History of India, Geography, Polity, Economy, etc. The UP Civil Judge exam pattern for the preliminary examination is as follows.
| Particular | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Total Questions | 450 |
| Maximum Marks | 450 |
| Duration | 2 hours for each |
| Subjects | – General Knowledge – Law |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 of the marks for each incorrect answer |
UP Judiciary Prelims Marking Scheme
The total number of questions asked in General Knowledge and Law is 150 and 300, respectively. There is negative marking; therefore, students should attempt questions carefully to avoid deductions.
| Particular | Details |
| Total Marks | 450 marks |
| Total Number of Questions | 450 questions |
| Marks Per Section | – General Knowledge: 150 marks – Law: 300 marks |
| Marks Per Question | 1 mark for each |
| Negative Marks | ⅓ marks for each incorrect answer |
UP Judiciary Mains Exam Pattern
The UP Judiciary Mains examination is a descriptive written exam comprising six papers, totalling 1,000 marks. The UP Judiciary exam paper pattern for the Mains is presented in the table below.
| Paper | Subject | Maximum Marks |
| Paper I | General Knowledge | 200 |
| Paper II | English Language | 100 – English Essay: 50 Marks – English Precis Writing: 30 Marks – Translation of passage from English to Hindi: 20 marks |
| Paper III | Hindi Language | 100 – Hindi Essay: 50 Marks – Hindi Precis Writing: 30 Marks – Translation of passage from Hindi to English: 20 marks |
| Paper IV | Law-I (Substantive Law) | 200 |
| Paper V | Law-II (Procedure and Evidence) | 200 |
| Paper VI | Law-III (Penal, Revenue & Local Laws) | 200 |
UP Judiciary Mains Exam Marking Scheme
The total marks in the UP Judiciary Mains exam are 1,000. There are 6 papers, each worth 200 marks, except English Language and Hindi Language, which carry 100 marks each. Since the question papers are descriptive in nature, there are no negative marking criteria.
UP Judiciary Interview Exam Pattern
The interview is conducted for students who qualify the prelims and mains examination cutoff marks. The UP Judiciary interview pattern is listed below:
- The interview will be held for 100 marks.
- The selection is based on the candidates’ personality, general and legal awareness and overall suitability of the candidate.
- The interview does not include negative marks as it is a face-to-face interaction.
Check out UP Judiciary 2026
UP Judiciary Syllabus 2026
The Preliminary examination tests candidates on General Knowledge and Law, while the Mains examination includes General Knowledge, English, Hindi, and three law papers covering substantive law, procedural law, evidence, and Uttar Pradesh-specific local laws.
UP Judiciary Prelims Syllabus
| General Knowledge | – History – Indian Culture – Geography of India – Polity – Current affairs of national issues – Indian Economy, etc. |
| Law | – Jurisprudence – International Organizations – Current International Affairs – Indian Constitution – Transfer of Property Act – Indian Evidence Act – Indian Penal Code – Civil Procedure Code – Criminal Procedure Code – Contract Act |
UP Judiciary Mains Syllabus
| General Knowledge | Similar to the General Knowledge of Prelims Paper I |
| English Language | – English Essay – English Precis Writing – Translation of passage from Hindi to English |
| Hindi Language | – Hindi Essay – Hindi Precis Writing – Translation of passage from Hindi to English |
| Law – I (Substantive Law) | – Law of Contracts – Law of Partnership – Transfer of Property – Hindu Law – Mohammedan Law – Constitutional Law |
| Law-II (Procedure and Evidence Law) | – Law of Evidence, 1872 – The Code of Criminal Procedure – Code of Civil Procedure, etc. |
| Law-III (Penal, Revenue and Local Laws) | – Indian Penal Code, 1860 – U.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1947 – Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916 – U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953, etc. |
Recommended Books for UP Judiciary Exam
UP Judiciary syllabus covers both bare acts and conceptual understanding. Since the Mains examination requires more analytical and descriptive answers, candidates should prioritise standard legal commentaries and the Bare Acts rather than relying solely on an objective guide book.
| Topic/Subject | Author/Publication/Recommended Acts |
| General Knowledge | – Pratiyogita Darpan – Newspaper (The Hindu or Indian Express) – Manorama Yearbook |
| Bare Acts – The Foundation | – Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 – Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 – Indian Evidence Act, 1872 – Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), 1908 – Indian Contract Act, 1872- Constitution of India |
| Criminal Law | K.D. Gaur or Ratanlal & Dhirajlal |
| Civil Procedure | C.K. Takwani |
| Evidence Law | Batuk Lal or Vepa P. Sarathi |
| Constitutional Law | M.P. Jain or J.N. Pandey |
| Contract Law | Avtar Singh |
| Torts | R.K. Bangia |
| Jurisprudence | V.D. Mahajan |
| Interpretation of Statutes | V.P. Sarathi |
Explore Other Judiciary Exams:
| Bihar Judiciary Exam | Gujarat Judiciary Exam |
| Himachal Judiciary Exam | MP Judiciary Exam |
| Rajasthan Judiciary Exam |
FAQs on UP PCS-J Exam Pattern
The UP Judiciary exam consists of two stages: the Preliminary Examination and the Mains Examination. The prelims are objective (MCQ)-based, with General Knowledge and Law papers, while the mains comprise five descriptive papers covering General Knowledge, Languages, and Law.
The UP Judiciary Preliminary exam carries 450 marks, with 150 marks for General Knowledge and 300 marks for Law. Candidates receive 1 mark for each correct answer, and 1/3 mark is deducted for every incorrect response.
No, there is no negative marking in the UP Judiciary Mains examination. Since the papers are descriptive, candidates are evaluated based on the quality and accuracy of their written answers.
The UP Judiciary Preliminary Examination consists of two papers, each lasting 2 hours. Candidates must complete the objective-type questions within the allotted time.
The UP Judiciary Mains Examination comprises six descriptive papers: General Knowledge, English Language, Hindi Language, Law-I (Substantive Law), Law-II (Procedure and Evidence), and Law-III (Penal, Revenue & Local Laws).
The UP Judiciary interview is conducted for 100 marks. Candidates appearing for the interview should thoroughly revise important legal and general awareness. With this, the candidate’s selection will be based on his/her overall personality.
Candidates who qualify the UP Judiciary prelims and mains are eligible for the interview round.
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